Fine structure of convective motions in the solar photosphere: Observations and theory

The granulation brightnesses and convective velocities in the solar photosphere between the levels of formation of the continuum radiation and the temperature minimum are examined. Spectral images of the granulation observed in lines of neutral and ionized iron with high spatial (0.5″) and temporal (9 s) resolutions were obtained using the German Vacuum Tower Telescope in Izana (Tenerife, Spain). A correlation analysis shows that the granules and intergranules change their relative brightness at a height near 250 km, and a general reversal of the velocity occurs near a height of 490 km, where the material above granules begins to predominantly descend, and the material above intergranules, to ascend. The maximum correlation coefficient between the velocity and the line brightnesdoesnot exceed 0.75. The properties of the brightness and velocity are analyzed in a sixteen-column model. Four sorts of motions are most typical and efficient. In the first two, only the sign of the relative contrast of the material changes (an efficiency of 46%). This occurs, on average, at a height of 270 km. In the last two motions, both the sign of the contrast and the direction of the motion are reversed near a height of 350 km (an efficiency of 28%). All the observed dependences are compared with theoretical relations obtained in a three-dimensional hydrodynamical model, with deviations from local thermodynamic equilibrium included in the calculation of the spectral-line profiles. This model can satisfactorily reproduce all the basic features of the convective velocities and intensities. It is concluded that the convective motions maintain their column structure throughout the photosphere, right to the level of the temperature minimum. This makes a separation of the photosphere into two regions with different granulation brightnesses and convective motions unjustified.